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12 May 2010

My Ride up the Alpe d' Huez

France Cycling - My Ride up the Alpe d' Huez

In 2007 I rode up the Alpe d'Huez with my brother Mike on a peaceful non-Tour de France day in June. The most striking thing about riding L'Alpe d'Huez on a bike, is that the switchbacks appear to come in three parts. You see a section above, ride it, only to come around the bend and see another section, ride that, then another one appears. It is like getting a lump in your throat every 3-5km, "okay, now I'll ride up that", "okay, now I'll ride up that".

This ride is not over, until it is over. Over comes at the ski station at the top and a nice cool drink in one of the cafe bars. However this climb is honestly not that hard (unless you come over the Col de Telegraphe and the Galibier first). The climb of Alpe d'Huez is only 8.9 miles long from Bourg-d'Oisans, a nice town at the base of the climb, with plenty of parking and cafes to sit and watch the cyclists come and go.I like this climb. As you climb Alpe d'Huez the views of the valley below are changing, the switchbacks are a nice relief on the body, and the marker signs at every numbered switchback are very entertaining to read. I also find the relatively flat corners sort of fun to ride (until the much steeper straight hits just after each corner).I was aiming to beat Lance Armstrong's time, but I am certain I at least beat Sheryl Crow's time. Record holders:Marco Pantani was the fastest at 37.35 minutes, Lance Armstrong 41.18 minutes.

I also rode up the Alpe d'Huez in 2003 on a crowded very hot day of the Tour de France. The hardest part (by far!) was descending the mountain amongst the crowd after the stage was over.

On that Tour de France day in July, I waited with a very nice French family and their not so high tech TV set-up for the Tour riders to come up the valley from the Col de Galibier over the Col du Lauteret into Bourg d'Oisans and up Alpe d'Huez. It was a very long but memorable day.

Climbing Alpe d'Huez on Tour de France day 2003

The nice French family who shared their TV screens with their fellow fans at km 4

Update: A recent famous moment on Alpe d'Huez happened at the 2011 Tour de France when Jens Voigt stopped to insure that the correct fan (a child) received his water bottle, read: A Tour de France Gift From JensInformation from other online sources to help you plan your ride up Alpe d'Huez:

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Inspiring cyclists and travelers Pedal Dancer is a bike travel blog for travelers, cyclists and cycling fans. Covering Colorado, France, Tour de France, Spring Classics in Belgium, Cycling Events and more. A resource light on opinion and heavy on information and joy of the sport.